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Biography and Autobiography

Rare Biography & Autobiography Books for Sale Online

If you are looking for rare or first edition biography or autobiography books look no further than Raptis Rare Books. Browse through our entire collection of rare biographies and autobiographies below, view details about individual books and contact us to ask a question or find out more information.

Showing items 864-888 of 1152

Macmunn, Sir George [Rudyard Kipling]

Kipling’s Women.

London : Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd., n.d..

First edition of the former President of the Kipling Society’s study of the women portrayed in Kipling’s song and story. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles and central gilt emblem to the front panel. Very good in the rare original dust jacket which is in good condition.

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$30.00
Item Number: RRB-135257
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Cohen, Morton

Rudyard Kipling to Rider Haggard: The Record of a Friendship.

London : Hutchinson, 1965.

First edition of the first edited collection of the unpublished correspondence between the two great men of letters. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

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$30.00
Item Number: RRB-135911
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Gunther, John

Death Be Not Proud.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1949.

First edition, later printing of this deeply moving book, a father’s memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy. Octavo, bound by the author in full morocco by “Kingsport Press,” marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, cloth slipcase. Association copy, inscribed by the author to his wife in the year of publication, “This book belongs toContinue reading "Death Be Not Proud."

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$4,000.00
Item Number: RRB-130415
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Smith, James L

Autobiography of James L. Smith, Including, Also, Reminiscences of Slave Life, Recollections of the War, Education of Freedmen, Causes of the Exodus.

Norwich, CT : Press of the Bulletin Company, 1881.

Rare first edition of this autobiography describing Smith’s life as a slave in Virginia, his escape north 1838, and life as a freeman. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Blockson 9202; HSP/LCP Afro-Americana Catalog 9524.

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$3,500.00
Item Number: RRB-130414
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Brown, William J

The Life of William J. Brown, of Providence, R. I. With Personal Recollections of Incidents in Rhode Island.

Providence : Agnell, 1883.

Very rare first edition of the narrative of William J. Brown, born in 1814 the son of a free Black man and Native American woman in Providence, Rhode Island. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Rare as only one example has appeared at auction in the last 80 years.

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$4,000.00
Item Number: RRB-130502
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Tchertkoff, Vladimir. [Leo Tolstoy]

The Last Days of Tolstoy.

London : William Heinemann, 1922.

First edition of Chertkov’s illuminating biographical work including numerous excepts from Tolstoy’s personal diaries and letters. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition.

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$75.00
Item Number: RRB-133949
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Hopkins, R. Thurston. [Rudyard Kipling]

The Kipling Country.

London : Cecil Palmer, 1924.

First edition of Hopkins’ illustrated homage to Kipling’s home in rural Burwash and its surrounds. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with drawings by Captain Irvine B. Bately and Gordon Volk. In good condition. Bookplate.

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$75.00
Item Number: RRB-135263
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Ayer, I. Winslow

The Great Treason Plot in the North During the War. Most Dangerous, Perfidious, Extensive and Startling Plot Ever Devised! Imminent Hidden Perils of the Republic. Astounding Developments Never Before Published.

Chicago : U.S. Publishing Co, n.d..

Early printing of Ayer’s Civil War account. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In good condition.

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$125.00
Item Number: RRB-132537
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Colacello, Bob. [Andy Warhol] [William Safire]

Holy Terror: Andy Warhol Close Up.

New York : Vintage Books, 2014.

First Vintage Books edition of “by far the best of Andy Warhol’s portraits, including his own” (George Plimpton). Octavo, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front endpaper in the year of publication, “To Bill Zwecker, with fondness, Bob Colacello 2014 Chicago.” The recipient, Bill Zwecker, was a longtime entertainmentContinue reading "Holy Terror: Andy Warhol Close Up."

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$200.00
Item Number: RRB-133037
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Lewis, C.S

George Macdonald: An Anthology.

London : Geoffrey Bles: The Centenary Press, 1946.

First edition of C.S. Lewis’ anthology of extracts from the sermons and writings of George Macdonald. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Mansell. An exceptional example.

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$850.00
Item Number: RRB-132399
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Von Clausewitz, Carl Philipp Gottfried

On War.

London : N. Trubner & Co, 1873.

First edition in English of arguably the most important treatise on political-military analysis and strategy ever written. Small quarto, three volumes complete in one, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Clausewitz. Translated by Colonel J. J. Graham from the third German edition. In near fine condition. From the library of Lt. Colonel Walter Pipon Braithwaite withContinue reading "On War."

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$20,000.00
Item Number: RRB-127055
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Churchill, Winston S

Lord Randolph Churchill.

New York and London : Macmillan & Co. Limited, 1906.

First editions of Winston S. Churchill’s biography of his father. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth bound, gilt titles to the spine, engraved frontispiece portrait of Sir Randolph Churchill after a photograph by Mackintosh to Volume I, engraved frontispiece portrait of Sir Randolph Churchill after a photograph by Russell and Sons to Volume II, illustrated. InContinue reading "Lord Randolph Churchill."

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$950.00
Item Number: RRB-130791
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Washington, Booker T

Tuskegee & Its People: Their Ideals and Achievements.

New York : D. Appleton and Co, 1906.

First edition, early printing of this overview of Tuskegee Institute. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “B. G. Hardwick from Booker T. Washington Jan 1906.” In very good condition with some dampstaining.

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$2,250.00
Item Number: RRB-130484
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Aubry, Octave. [Napoleon Bonaparte]

Ecrits de Napoleon.

Paris : Editions Buchet / Chastel, 1969.

Finely bound example of Octave Aubry’s Ecrits de Napoleon. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt central vignette to the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles,Continue reading "Ecrits de Napoleon."

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$1,250.00
Item Number: RRB-130509
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Sanders, Bernie

Our Revolution. A Future To Believe In.

New York : Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's, 2016.

First edition of Bernie Sanders’ account of his life and influences, featuring a detailed account of his campaign praised as “well worth reading… his ideas basically just as fresh to him today as when he left his native Brooklyn.” Octavo, original boards, pictorial endpapers. Signed by Bernie Sanders in facsimile. Fine in a fine dustContinue reading "Our Revolution. A Future To Believe In."

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$75.00
Item Number: RRB-130641
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Yogananda, Paramhansa

Autobiography of a Yogi.

New York : The Philosophical Library, 1946.

First edition of one of the most important spiritual books of the twentieth century, Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Preface by Walter Evans-Wentz. Uncommon in the original dust jacket.

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$1,500.00
Item Number: RRB-130643
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Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown

Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.

Gaithersburg, MD : Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990.

First edition of Hunt and Brown’s monumental compilation of biographical sketches of Union brevet brigadier generals in the Civil War. Quarto, original cloth decorated in gilt, profusely illustrated with portraits. In fine condition.

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$125.00
Item Number: RRB-133074
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Tarbell, Ida M

The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

New York : Lincoln History Society, 1909.

Bound set of Tarbell’s classic biography of President Lincoln. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt facsimile signature of Lincoln to the front panel, frontispiece portraits, one in color, illustrated with reproductions of original paintings and photographs, marbled endpapers. In good condition.

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$1,750.00
Item Number: RRB-129092
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Marshall, Paule

Triangular Road: A Memoir.

New York : Basic Civitas Book, 2008.

Uncorrected proof of the first edition of the famed author’s insightful memoir. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Paule Marshall on the the title page. In near fine condition. Uncommon signed.

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$400.00
Item Number: RRB-129301
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Dailey, Abram H. [Mollie Fancher]

Mollie Fancher: the Brooklyn Enigma. An Authentic Statement of Facts in the Life of Mary J. Fancher, The Psychological Marvel of the Nineteenth Century.

Brooklyn : Eagle Book Printing Dept, 1894.

First edition of this work on Mollie Fancher. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Signed by Mollie Fancher on the title page. In very good condition. Books signed by Fancher are rare.

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$3,250.00
Item Number: RRB-129342
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Herriot, James

The Lord God Made Them All.

London : Michael Joseph, 1981.

First edition of this installment in Herriot’s true-life-saga as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire countryside. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Bill… James Herriot.” Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Fay Godwin. Uncommon signed.

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$1,600.00
Item Number: RRB-129084
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Strachey, Lytton

Eminent Victorians: Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, Dr. Arnold, General Gordon.

London : Chatto and Windus, 1960.

Finely bound example of the work that placed Strachey firmly in the top rank of biographers. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Eminent Victorians: Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, Dr. Arnold, General Gordon."

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$750.00
Item Number: RRB-129185
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Galbraith, John Kenneth

A View From the Stands of People, Politics, Military Power and the Arts.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986.

First edition of Galbraith’s retrospective collection. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication to Elaine Steinbeck, “For Elaine with love… John G – 1986.” From the library of Elaine Steinbeck. Galbraith and John Steinbeck met in the early 1950s while on a holidayContinue reading "A View From the Stands of People, Politics, Military Power and the Arts."

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$650.00
Item Number: RRB-128099
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Seitz, Don. [Harry Houdini]

Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne): A Biography and Bibliography.

New York and London : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1919.

First edition of Seitz’s biography of America’s first stand-up comedian, Charles Farrar Browne, from Harry Houdini’s famed library of magic. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Ward, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Harry Houdini with the veryContinue reading "Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne): A Biography and Bibliography."

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$4,500.00
Item Number: RRB-127633
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